Prevalence of Intestinal Protozoans among Schoolchildren in Suburban Areas near Yangon, Myanmar

Abstract

Although intestinal protozoans are common etiologies of diarrhea, few studies have been conducted in Myanmar. This study planned to investigate the prevalence of Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica, and Endolimax nana among schoolchildren and their guardians in suburban areas near Yangon, Myanmar. We performed a cross-sectional survey among schoolchildren and their guardians from 7 primary schools in South Dagon and Hlaing Thar Yar districts, Yangon, Myanmar. Stool samples were observed with a microscope after concentration technique and iodine staining. Total 821 stool samples, including 556 from schoolchildren and 265 from guardians, were examined. The median age was 6 years old for schoolchildren and 36 years old for guardians. A 53.1% of the school children and 14.6 % of the guardians were males. The overall prevalence of each intestinal protozoan species was as follows: 3.4% (28/821) for G. lamblia; 3.5% (29/821) for E. coli; 1.2% (10/821) for E. histoytica, and 3.0% for E. nana. This study showed that intestinal protozoans are common in primary schoolchildren and their guardians in suburban areas near Yangon, Myanmar. Health interventions, such as hand washing education, improvement of sanitation, and establishment of water purification systems are urgently needed in this area.

Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Environmental Water Contamination in a Rural Village of Northern Lao PDR

“…We note that the failure to use appropriate toilet facilities can increase this risk and close contact with pet animals is also a risk factor for low host specific protozoans. Intestinal protozoans were common in Lak Sip village with a considerable diversity that can be compared with similar recent studies in the region, e.g., 4 protist species were found in schoolchildren in Myanmar from 821 analyzed samples [ 30 ], and 3 species in Thailand were found from 236 examined samples [ 31 ]. In addition, there were some other recent studies in rural communities that detected 6 protist species in Northeast Thailand from 253 stool samples [ 32 ] and in Cambodia from 218 stool samples [ 33 ].…”

Prevalence and Genetic Identification of Three Entamoeba Species in Pigs in Southeastern China

“…Traditional microscopic examination is the most commonly used clinical diagnostic tool for examining the presence of Entamoeba organisms in fresh or fixed stool samples [1, 7, 21, 22]. However, several distinct Entamoeba spp.…”

Identification of Uncommon Cryptosporidiumviatorum (a Novel Subtype XVcA2G1c) and Cryptosporidium andersoni as Well as Common Giardia duodenalis Assemblages A and B in Humans in Myanmar

“…However, in two studies conducted in Myanmar, a prevalence of 3.4% was found in detection of either Cryptosporidium spp. in infants or G. duodenalis in schoolchildren and guardians by microscopy (Aye et al, 1994;Kim et al, 2016). The difference in prevalence may be related to detection methods employed.…”

“…To date, only two studies reported the prevalence by microscopy in Myanmar: Cryptosporidium spp. (3.4%, 7/203) in infants with diarrhea (Aye et al, 1994) and G. duodenalis (3.4%, 28/821) in schoolchildren and guardians (Kim et al, 2016). The present study was conducted to understand the prevalence and genetic characterization of Cryptosporidium spp.…”